Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis is already an accomplished wrestler, having been an NCAA Division I National Champion while competing for Pennsylvania State University, and after trying his hand at Jiu-Jitsu, he discovered that he was pretty good at that as well, winning the blue belt, super heavyweight division at the 2009 No Gi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. It wasn’t until he entered the world of professional mixed martial arts, however, that Davis gained recognition as one of the most promising young prospects to enter the sport in years.

After running his professional record to 6-0 (2-0 UFC), Davis has established himself as a contender in the making in the stacked UFC light heavyweight division, but don’t tell him that. Coming off of a first-round submission victory over previously-unbeaten Swedish fighter Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 112, Davis is still not satisfied with his performances inside of the Octagon to date, confident that the best is yet to come.

Davis recently spoke with Tapology’s Steven Kelliher to discuss his MMA career to date, his favorite fighters to watch, and why winning is simply not good enough for him on the path to UFC gold.

Tapology: I wanted to start by getting your background in martial arts. How did you become involved with MMA and did you expect it to turn into a full time career when you first started?

Davis: I got started in MMA through wrestling, and obviously I hoped it would turn into a full time career. Wrestling was pretty much what I did full time before MMA, so I was honestly hoping this would turn into a 9-5, which it has. I started working with Lloyd Irvin after I had been training with Brandon Vera and before I moved to California, and we’ve been teammates ever since.

Tapology: You are still at the beginning of your professional career, but you’re already 2-0 in the UFC and 6-0 as a pro. Are you more confident now than you were at the beginning of your career?

Davis: I feel comfortable any time I’m in an athletic situation. A lot of guys can’t figure out how to win and I feel like winning is something I know how to do. As far as MMA goes, I get a little bit more confident with every win, but the truth of the matter is I’ll know when I’m the best and I’m nowhere near the best right now, so that keeps me from feeling too good about myself.

Tapology: You have been very critical about your performances in the UFC to date, but you have come in and dominated two high-level light heavyweights, so you’ve got to be happy with that, right?

Davis: No I do not. I know the potential is there and I didn’t perform to the level that I could have. That’s not to say that I could have done it better if I had pushed myself harder in camp—it’s nothing like that—but why should I be satisfied with a win that doesn’t represent the kind of champion that I’m going to be? When I can look like Anderson Silva did—in the first round against Demian Maia—and finish someone, then I’ll be satisfied.

A lot of people think it’s all about winning, and it’s not about winning, it’s about looking good. What I saw in me [against Alexander Gustafsson] did not look good. If you win, you’ve done your job, but it’s about looking good and I did not look good in my eyes.

Tapology: The light heavyweight division is predominantly known for its knockout strikers. Do you think that you can be a threat at the top of that division because you can take guys down and submit them?

Davis: I really haven’t read that far into it, but since you said it—and it sounded pretty cool when you said it—that sounds good to me. I like that.

Tapology: You are training at AKA in California. Who are some of your best sparring partners out there?

Davis: Oh, man. I have been beat up a couple of times in there. Cain [Velasquez] is probably the worst, but it’s a solid camp and everybody puts out in training.

Tapology: You’re an MMA fighter, so obviously you’re working on every aspect of your game, but after your fight at UFC 112, is there anything specific that you’re working on as a result?

Davis: I’m worried about how to up the ante with my interview game. Sometimes I get tongue-tied and don’t know what to say. What do I need to say to make it an interesting interview with Joe Rogan? Joe’s one of those people, you know? That’s when I really got nervous.

Tapology: The light heavyweight division is stacked right now. Are there any specific names that you would like to be matched up against in your next fight?

Davis: That is probably my least favorite question, and everyone asks it. My thing is this: I plan to be the best, so doesn’t that mean I’m going to have to beat everybody? Why call someone out who I think I can beat? I should be able to beat everybody. I can’t do it right now, I’m still working my way up, so I don’t like to name names.

Tapology: Where do you see yourself right now in the division? Would you like to challenge some of the top names within the next year, or do you want to take it slow and build yourself up?

Davis: I definitely need to work my way up. It’s a little daunting to jump right in with the high-level contenders right away, but this whole thing is a journey. I just have to get as good as possible, preferably sooner than later.

Tapology: Everyone has seen your grappling ability, but how is your striking coming along?

Davis: It’s pretty good, actually. When I fought Brian Stann, I went for a bunch of submissions and didn’t end up getting any of them, and then when I fought Gustafsson I ended up getting the first one I went for. I think my striking is going to be the same way. I think when I really decide to stand up with someone, people will be surprised at how well I do.

Tapology: Are there any specific fighters that you look up to or that you try to learn from watching?

Davis: All of the champs. Whenever I watch BJ Penn—oops, I slipped up—or Silva, or GSP, they not only fight with so much skill, but they also have that intuitive knowledge and experience to turn the right way and to act when they get into certain situations. I think it’s a mistake if you don’t try to steal a little bit of Demian Maia’s ground game, a little bit of Anderson Silva’s striking, and a little bit of GSP’s wrestling.

Tapology: What is it about your training, your mentality, and your natural ability that will make you a champion someday?

Davis: I’m one of those people, that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it, and that’s not true for everybody. That’s it.

http://topsy.com/trackback?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L1&url=http://www.tapology.com/2010/04/phil-davis-exclusive-its-not-about-winning-its-about-looking-good/ Tweets that mention New interview w/ UFC light heavyweight PHIL DAVIS on his win at UFC 112 and looking good in the cage: — Topsy.com

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tapology. Tapology said: New interview w/ UFC light heavyweight PHIL DAVIS on his win at UFC 112 and looking good in the cage: http://bit.ly/bazrx3 [...]